Gibbs 'sorry' for 'hard a***' remark

Two days after his livid comments made in an interview to Sports Illustrated, in which he also accused the Indian investigators of "not playing their part" and being slow in their probe, Gibbs on Friday said 'sorry' for his comments. He said he was aware of the duty of the Indian authorities.

"I recognise that the police have their processes to follow and I am sorry if it has appeared that I was critical of these," he said. "I think whatever I said may have been taken out of context. I am now really looking forward to representing my country in India at the Champions Trophy."

GO-AHEAD: The South African cricket board has given its green signal to Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje to visit India for the ICC Champions Trophy.

On his Tuesday interview, Gibbs was very harsh on the Delhi police. He said: "The particular guy that's driving the whole thing is quite a hard-arse sort of guy. He refuses to let himself be dictated to. He wants to do it on his terms, and that's it."

"They haven't really played their part. You know, we've asked them many a time to come question me on neutral territory, and they refuse. So it's not like I haven't made the effort. It's them being hard-arses. That's it," he had alleged.

Gibbs' apology for his comments came hours after the South African cricket board (CSA) gave a green signal to him along with Nicky Boje to visit India for the ICC Champions Trophy next month.

The CSA said it appreciated the duo's keenness to play in India and would assist them in meeting their obligations to the Indian police in the match-fixing scandal investigations.

"Herschelle and Nicky have confirmed that they will go to India if selected and that they will cooperate fully with any interviews which the Indian police may wish to hold with them," CSA Chief Executive Gerald Majola said.

"Cricket South Africa will now put forward their names to the selection panel and support them in need, which we hope will assist in the investigation, in order to minimise any disruption to the team's training and playing programme. Their lawyers will also be available to take appropriate steps to protect all of their rights."